Balloon



sept. 15, 1925. 1,553,340

R. H. UPS-ON 1 BALLOON Filed May 18, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i I I il 'miauw-wlw? .HTTRNEY sept. 15, 1925. 1,553,340

R. H. UPSON BALLOON Filed May 18, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 )WL-qv@ 30 HTTURNEY Sept. l5, 1925. 1,553,340

R. H. uPsoN BALLOON Filed May' 18, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 KW Hrm/wr;

WITNESS'EE 6 Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

. l A; 41,553,340, UNITED sTATEsPATENT oFF-ICE.

RALPH E., UPSON, F MICHIGAN.

I BALLOON.

Application led Hay 18, 419%3. v Serial 1N. 689,789.

To all 'whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, RAnrrI H.- UPsoN, a

I citizen of the United States, residing in the village of Birmingham, county of-Oakland, State of Michigan, havel invented -`certain new and useful Improvements in Balloons, of. which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrative of one particular embodiment of myinvention. i

Thisinvention relatesl to balloons, and more particularly to, features of construction applicable primarily to the so-called spherical balloon as a lighter-than-air craft `for thegeneral uses of balloons.

The particular objects are to provide a balloon more eiiicient in service than `those heretofore made. Among the particular obv jects are to provide a construction which will make possible a higher ceiling or range of altitude, increase the stability, that is improve the ability to maintain a more conl vstant altitude, to' reduce the radiation-effect,

improve the ability to shed rain or snow, inv crease the: efficiency of manipulation, reduce the .amount VofA ballast supply necessary for a givenv journey or for anylong 'distance flights, and generally'to. improve the characteristics. and' vthereby the performancefof balloons in actual service. A

The inventions will be more specifically set forth with relation to a specific embodiment of a balloon illustratedin the accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinafter, and in respect to whichthe general characteristics will -be first ferred to.

y The envelope of the balloon constitutes a large element of weight, but vheretofore the vmaterial of the envelope if used Without a net, involved stiffness* against shock and irregular strains. By using the fabric with a single bias ply, with the warp in adjacent gores slanting in opposite directions oblique to the seam between the gores, all necessary strength and flexibility is provided without any net. Thus with a single ply with panels of fabrics on the bias considerable welght is saved and at one stroke, ,with am le. shock resisting qualities and with the orce distributing properties peculiar to a net. u l

With this Vconstruction stress resisting 'tapes are secured to the seams between the goreson the upper part 4of the balloon, each tape being connected to a-foot rope. `The general construction permits the'use of a This equatorial band band from its furled reduced numberlof foot'ropes'com ared to present types of balloons and still a mirably so-called necting the lower-ends of all the tapes, and the upper ends of all the foot ropes.

At the top a proper construction to shed snow and otherwise meet the conditions at the apex of the balloon, is obtained by mak- 1ng the top double ly of conical sha-pe,-and arranging for interlor manipulation so that the pilot may readily throw off anyv chance accumulation of snow.

Tn the referred form the envelope comprises a W ite outer surface such as bleached Cloth with i i providesan improved screen against radiation. `This indirectly effects a saving ofa substantial amount of ballast which otherwise would be required for the same'iight performance. f

a white rubber backingxwhich l` A-.most visible change resides inthe `proprovides av generally horizontal-area hav-` ing a dampening effect on vertical motion.

While this may be variously arranged and constructed, -in' the referred form 'it comprises fabric secur to the envelope completely around the perip to the equator,and held 1n a general radial direction by struts'securedl below. its line of attachment and extending radially outi-` torial band and there secured to a A ro e whlch is fastened radially in the equatorial band with its ends secured at the envelope hery at or ,closeA -ward and upward to the-edge ofthe equaf to or adjacent the stress tape,and with the v other or; free end running down and leading to the load ring above the basket in a position capable of manipulation by the pilot. and its struts are folded upward when the balloon is being inflated, andware -readily secured in a temporary` manner in the upward-furled position, but by larrangementwhichpermits the pilot to rvoluntarily pull down the equatorial position and thereby set it in operativeposition Iso soon as de sired after the flight has commenced. Thereafter the equatorial band ropes carry any strain on the underside of the equatorial band which may result from a drop of the balloon, while a. rapid rise of the balloon throwing a strain on the u per side of the equatorial band is resisted Ey the chamber of construction and its struts heldin position by the rim ro This equatorial and or rim is so shaped that it will shed rain, and 'any snow slidmg necessary, and assures general lightness, or in turn a greater flight capacity both as to ceiling and duration in air.

The general dimensions of this equatorial rim are preferably approxlmately as shown in the example herein referred to which are the results of careful tests.

The arrangement of catenaryV band with stress tapes includes features permitting hold-down ropes during iniiation entirely separate from the regular foot ropes, thereby permitting the hand ingduring inflation of the lower half, by separate ropes, savin wear and tear on the foot ro es proper an keeping the sand bags attac ed'to the inflation ropes entirely clear ofthe congested space where the basket is moved. into position for connection with the load ring. In

case of high wind the ination ropes can be kept reeved -until the last moment and can serve as hold-downropes eliminating the necessity of .using sand bags around the.

ropes attached to the lead ring and avoiding the chance of sand bags goingl out of reach, as well as avoiding the crus sand bags around the. vicinity of the basket at just the time when .they should be clear for proper control and manipulation by the pilot.

In this particular embodiment of my invention, the inliation of the top half vof the balloon is handled by meansof a. separate iniiation net which is .pulled off after transferring the sand bags to the hold-down even though dropping on water, suitable pneumatic pontoons of inated fabric are provided under the basket, thereby relieving the weight ofthe basket when it touches the surface of any water and permitting the maximum chance of'sailing without danger of immersion of e uipment, over the surface of the water to a jacent land without'outside assistance. .v

These pontoons areconnected with each other to form a-single unit, detachable from the basket, and may be used as Yafseparate life boat or raft in case of emergency.

A s usual the mixing of air with the gas of men and pes. In order that the pilot may reach land .F

assegno old-fashioned'appendixis accomp ished in a changed form involving a light inner sleeve at the bottom, while -a semi-automatic appendix closingdevice may be used in ad-- ditlon.

With these principal characteristics andtheir relative im ortance indicated they will now be more fu ly ap reciated with reference to the detailed escription involving an example -of the practice of my invention.

A particular embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. lis an elevation of balloon as suspended in air.

Fig. 2 is an elevation `of the balloon with top half inflated, with dotted position shown with further progressive inflation.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on a larger scale, illustrating parts in more detail.

Fig. 4 is top plan of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of Fig. Bon line 5 5.

Fig. 6 is` a vertical sectionon an enlarged scale, part fragmentary, of the cone and suspension tape connections.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing on a larger scale details of catenary band.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section, fragmentary of the equatorial band and its connections to the envelope.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing vertical sectiony connection of the equatorial band to the envelope.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective showing the connection of the equatorial rim` struts. v

The balloon comprises the generally spherical envelope including the to half l and the lower-half 2, a cone3 forming the apex, suspension tapes 4, the equatorial rim 5, catenary band 6, foot ropes 7 load ring 8 and basket 9.

In the particular embodiment herein shown,the envelope comprises in the upper half a plurality of gores 10-10 made up of panels of single ply 4fabric set on the bias, so that the warp of the panels 11 in adjacent gores is at an angle, as shown in The cone 3, however, is made of double ply fabric, and close to the bottom adjacent the a pendix, the envelope is strengthened by .being made of two-ply, and twoly is used in the suspension bands. A sing e ply fabric laid on the bias, in combination with the other features of construction, involves. the various advantages which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

The double ply cone has secured near its edge the top end of a plurality of suspension must be avoided, and the advanta e of the tapes 4 which may be sewed to the fabric secured to the envelol as they yconsist of flat lstri s of rubberize silktapeand are re, inforce by additional plies of tapeprogress sively, each additional plyv begmnmg at a further distance from thecone as at 4*, 4", 4, 4. Thesesuspensionftapes are covered with a strip of biasitape, thereby protecting 4and securing the suspension ta es to the en velope. `At the lower end of t e suspension tapes they pass into the catenary band 6, as shownin'detail in Fig. 7, so that the'lower end Where the lift strain ofthe balloon is carried, the end of the suspension tape is in positionV to be connected withthe :catenary .ropes 12 joining at a thimble 13 at the up;

per end of the foot ropes 7. At this june.- tion a thimble 14 is spliced in order to form a permanent .connection permittin the reevL ing of separate iniiation lines or old-.down ropes at this point in order to permitthe handling during inflation by separate lines aroundthe balloon, ywithout interference with the manipulation of the foot 'ropes during the preparationfor flight. 'p

The catenary band 6 involves a double ply yof material secured tothe envelope belowthe equatorial rim, and the lower edge of the catenary band has grummet ropes bound in which transmit the strain .from the f oot vropes to the best advantage for distributing irregular angular. pulls such as occur during inflation. 1

' Just above the catenary band, what I call an equatorial rim is lprovided for great advantages of operation 'which will be described in more detail hereinafter. This equatorial rim comprises fabricnsection '1'5 secured to the envelope around the equator, being cemented thereto to form aewatertight joint. At intervals, preferably corresponding with and at each suspensiontape Ine-A -ridian, a rope 16 is fastened, to the envelope by having its end frayed as at 16,`and ,oel mented and covered with a suitable waterproof patch. The rope passes through a -pocketon the underside ofthe rim' fabric 15, thefabric being lstretched as the rope is secured to it and a bias tape then cemented over the rope to suitably unite it with' the fabric of the rim andproperly distribute the rope strains throughout the fabric.' Near the edge of the rim, a rope end is spliced to the main rope 16 in order to tie the rope tol the end 1 7"l of the strut 17 which is secured at its other end 17b by a lash line to the rope# eyes 18,' 18 forming a strut-hinge 19 secured to the envelope. This strut-hinge 19 is formed by fraying the ends of the rope-eyes spreading and cementing them and covering them by suitable patches to the surface of Ythe envelope. Thus the rim strut 17 can fold upward against the envelope, and preliminary to a flight and during. the course .of inflation of the balloon these rim struts turned'position b a lig t brea lashing 20 secure to an eye 21 fastenedto the outer surface of the envelope.- The line -16 continues free rimfabric'and vextends downward to the load' ring 8, so that after the balloon has .started on its `flight the ilotl can pull the line 1 6, thereby breaking vt e temporary tie 20, whereupon the rim struts 17 spread out and form a radial strut to s i ort the rimv fabric' or equatorial flounce, w ich is then' held in :the extended position for therest of the ballQOniiight, with the ropes 16 having their lower end accessible to the occupants, serv,- ing to st' y hold the equatorial rim against 4any upward relative air current.

The control lines include theV valve line 22 serving to actuate the valve 23. This line 'passes through the sleeve 24 at the bottomof loon to the underside of the cone where it is attached, to the rip panel 27 provided able line orv pare' folded Vup,`tliereby folding up the itself, and are held tem orari 1n the upat the outer edge of the for'the usual emergency opening. A snow line 28 extends through the appendix 29 through the middle of the balloon to the underside of the cone or top cap 3, and this' snow line preferably has a crows-foot upper end spreading to a pluralityV yof points around the centre of the cone and attached at the inner side so that any strain on the snow line will pull .the double ply cap down without distorting its apex.. In thismanfner the snow line serves to pull down andrelease the cone in order to jar and loosen any accumulatlon yof snow 'and "cause 1t toI be shed over the sides of the upper half of the envelope. l A

L The basket 9'is attached with the usual basket ropesto the load ring 8, and the usual toggles are provided on the ropes extending just above the load ring for ready.` attachment to the eyes in the lower ends of the foot rope 7. Below the basket inflatable raft -30 ma be provided which, while being made of lig t material is of suflicient buoyancy to provideffioating capacity' on `water of the basketand'occupants. n

At the lower end of the appendix 29, 'a relatively light weight inner sleeve 31 forms the check valve against air, anda semi-automatic appendix closing device may be also added, consisting of an outside elastic cord which contracts the appendix sleeve around teylindrical cushion 32 attached to the snow ine.

It willbe noted that the old fashioned n'et whichjformerly served to enclose the upper half ofthe envelope and carry the strains, is

concerned. On the other "hand, all of the strains involved are admirably resisted by the envelope made with the different gores having panels with the fabric warp on the bias, and at the junction of the adjacent gores the suspension tapes running from the cap down to thel catenary band, provide the necessary strength throughout the main ortion of the envelope. Plain bleached c oth.

is found very effective with a white rubberv backing. This in itself effects a substantial saving in weight as compared with material previously used. l

The equatorial rim'involves marked advantages. p It provides means for completely sheddlngany water which runs down the top half of the envelope, and sheds snow as well.

This laterally projecting flounce or equatorial rim also has a dam ening effect on the` vertical movement of t e balloon, so that with a sudden tendency to rise the pressure on the top of the equatorial rim is resisted by the rope and strutstructure, and when a sudden tendency to fall develops, the equatorial rim ropes 16 being fastened to the load ring reslrst the upward stress on. the

e uatorial rim.`

, ith the shedding of any rain or condensation or snow over the periphery of the equatorial rim, it will beseen that the entire lower half of the envelope is protected and 4remains dry. Thus with the preventionof moisture contacting with the lower half of the envelope, there is a great saving in oper-- ation compared with balloons heretofore, which during a rain increase their weight materially due to the absorption of moisture; With the cone or apex construction, any accumulation of snow `can be shaken off and when sliding down the envelope will be deflected by the inclinationof the equatorial rim, and if not completely shed, then the rim guy ropes can be pulled to shake the fabric of the equatorial rimand thus assure shedding of the snow and prevent inthe eatest possible degree` any encumbrance of oad due to snow or water.

Thus in the starting` of flight with a balloon, as well as' in the maneuvering of the balloon, it will be appreciated that the inventions herein described have marked advantages. During iniation the upper half may be inflated, and the stress tapes resisting the lift are held down by land ropes passing throu h the thimbles 14, and these ropes may be he d down by men disposed around the balloon, and with sandvbags attachedif desired, keeping both men and sand bags well away from the position where the basket is to be attached. The foot ropes 7 at the same time remain free until the balloon is sufficiently inflated and allowed to rise to the extent where the basket is put in place, and the foot ropes then dangling free are led to their toggles above the load ring and are readily attached without any hold-down strain because the ropes passing through the t imbles 14 are at that time serving the purpose of control. As soon as desired the hold-down ropes are pulled free of the thimbles and the balloon is ready for release.

The balloon may be inflated with the equatorial rim furled up and therefore not interferlng with the get away, and the equatorial rim may'remain furled until any desired altitude isreached and until its functions are desired by the pilot. At the desired time the run ropes are pulled, thereby setting the equatorial rim in place with the struts holding it out and the ropes of the rim forming the upper tie or tension member for vradially outward strain..

During fli ht the advantages .heretofore mentioned o shedding snow and rain will,

now be fully understood, and it will be seen that anyvertical up or down movement will be dampened by the horizonal' annular area of 4the equatorial rim. At anytime, if desired, ythe rim hold-down ropes can be relievedto make the drop of the balloon free, and the rim can be shaken to clear it of moisture and snow by these ropes with their lowerends accessible to the occupants. The fabric in therim is so arranged as to take the necessary strain, With'the warp tangential, and between props or struts the 'edge may be left free of treatment such as paraffining, and may be perforated to assure the maximum shedding of water in any scallop formed between thel props,-as shown in Fig. 4. The snow line running from. the inner surface of the cone apex down to the basket may have a rubber section, shown at 33, Fig. 6, in tension, so as to accommodate the usual stretch involved in variation of expansion ofthe envelope.

The rim may haveother struts, such as may be embodied in the material instead of ropes, and a stiffer construction provided,

Wherever the Words spherical balloonv are used in these specifications and claims, they are to be understood as not limited to balloons of geometricalsphericity,but as including balloons of any spheroidal or approximately spherical shape.

la supplementary radially projecting annular band of material attached substantially Whilevarious modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my linvention, whatI claim and `desire, to secure by Letters Patent s.;

1. In a balloon, an envelope an annular band of pliable material secured substantially at the e uator of the envelope, and means to hold said band extended 1n a substantially horizontal position radially outward from the envelope.

2. -Incombination in a balloon, an annular equatorial band. secured at its inner periphery to the envelope, a plurality of,struts attached to the envelope at one end and to the outer periphery o the latter 1s held in a generally horizontal position.

3. A balloon having atnequatprial band,

means to hold said band in a substantially horizontal extended position. l

4. A balloon having an equatorial band with oneedge secured to the envelope of the balloon, struts projecting from the envelo eL to the band, and lines extendlngfrom lt e 'outer periphery of the band to` lower connections on the balloon. y g

5. In combination .in al balloon, an annular band secured at one edge substantially at the 4equator of the balloon envelope, a

pluralit of struts secured to the envelope below t e line of attachment of the band and extending to a connection adjacent the`v outer periphery of the band.

6. An equatorial band construction forspherical balloons, comprising in combinat1on with a balloon envelope an Vannular band, means to attach the inner periphery of the band to the envelo a plurality of ropes secured ina radia position on the band and having their ends secured to the envelope, struts registering with every rope and having one end secured to the envelope and connected at their outer end to the rope between itspoint of attachment to the ens velope and the free dependent end ofthe geAn equatorial band lconstruction for s herical, balloons, comprising in combina- .t1on withv a .balloon envelope an annular band, means to attach the inner periphery of the band `to the envelope, a-plurality of ropes secured in a radial position on the band, an inclined strut en aging each rope at or nea-r the outside ege ofv the band, an articulated means to secure the inner end of the strut to the e'nvelo e.

. 8. A spherical balloon aving an envelope,-

at the equator of the envelope, a plurality of struts hinged to the envelope, a plurality of ropes attached to the envelope and extending to the outer periphery of the band and each secured to the outer end of a strut,

said band whereby Aa plurality the top down the sides of land a continuous length of rope extending. downward therefrom to a point accessiblel ing the equatorial band toextend interme dla-te the ropes around the balloon.

10. A spherical balloon envelope comprislng a upper alf of the lift section, diagonal panels of material forming each gore'and tapes covering the sea-nis between gores.

.11. A spherical balloon-envelope, having meridian stressv tapes or cords from near diagonalpanels of fabric forming t e`interveiling gores, and the sole intervening connection disposed whereb lurality of vgores throughout the the Lupper half,

of substantially inextensiblev the fabric -is se.-

cured on the bias to t er meridian 'stress members with the two gores on eachv side of each member having their warp oppositely oblique to the longitudinal direction ofthe stress members. 12. A spherical balloon envelope com rising a plurality of gores forming the top alf v and made of single ly fabric l'aid on the bias throughout wit respect to the meridian lines with the warp oppositely oblique in adjacent gores, and having the junction of adjacent gores secured to meridian stressed tapes.

13. A spherical balloon envelope comprisv ingJfabric laid throughout onfthe bias with respect to each gore, and having the warp of fabric oblique to the seams between gores and oppositely positioned in an'obliquedirection on adjacent vgores and having meridian stressed tape secured at the junction of the adjacent gores.

14. A spherical balloon envelope, comprisi ing single-ply fabric, meridian stressed tapes from near the to to the equator, with the warp of the fabric in each gore oppositely oblique to the intervening stress tape and secured thereto, thereby .tially inextensible lexib roviding substane merldlan memf bers with intervening bias panels to resist the expansive pressure of the balloon.

15; In a spherical balloon, an apex shedding-cone formed of multiple ply fabric ,and the major extent of the top section of the envelope formed of a lesser ply fabric.

16. A balloon havin a cone forming the d apex and made of mu tiply fabric, 'the adjacent envelope extending to the equator formed of lesser plies of fabric, a catenary band' at or below the equator having its lower rim reinforced.

' v17. An envelope for a. spherical balloon consisting of `panels of single ply fabric on the bias throughout the lift section, an apex cone of multiple'ply fabric.

" of meridian-stress mem ers secure l 20. A spherical 18'. A s herica'l balloon envelope' consisting mainly of single ply fabric compising a plurality of meridian stress memrs secured to the envelope extending fromnear the apex to the equator.

19. A spherical balloon envelope, consist-- ing mainly of single-pl fabric, a lurality to and having the fabric as their sole interconnection, each meridian member formed of ma' -terial of increasing vstrength 4from top to bottom. l

balloon envelope, conslsting throughout the major portlon o f the lift sect-ion of fabric having its warp 1n an oblique direction, and formed and interconnected in a plurality of gores, a plurality of .meridian stress members consolidatedwith the outer surface of the fabric at the seams of the gores. l p

2l. A spherical balloon having an apex cone formed of a greater number of ply than the adjacent lift section .of .the envelope, meridian stress tapes extending from the cone tothe equator and secured throughout their length to the fabric of the envelope.

22.l In a balloon, a single ply envelope,

a cone of heavier construction, vstress members secured to meridian elements .of the i. top' half of the envelope, a catenary band,

means for attachment of foot ropes at the junction of the stress members and the lower rim'of the catenary band. f

`23. Ina balloon, a single ply'I envelope, a cone of heavier construction, Va catenary band below the equator, stress members extending from 'the cone throughout a plurality of meridian lines and secured to the envelope above the equator and having free lower ends joinin with the stress'member of a catenary ban eyes or like means close to the foot rope attached at the junction of the. meridian stress members a'nd .catenary stress members for separable connection of hold-down lines. v

24. In a balloon, meridian stress members attached to the junction of adjacent gores on the upper half of the envelope, al relatively stiff apex fabric vinterconnecting the upper ends of the `meridian stress members, a catenary band secureil around the envelope below the equator and havin grommets in the lower catenary edge wit free ends at intersect-ions with the meridian lines of the gore junctions, means to secure the lower ends of meridia-n stress members with the band grommets and foot ropes whereby the entire lift strain is directly transmitted to the plurality of foot ropes.

25. Ina balloon, an envelope having an A apex cone, a plurality of gores, meridian stress members running from the conev to the equator secured togthe gore seams and comprising material flprogressively increasing strength from the`\to down, and terminating at the lower ends 1n means for attachment of foot ropes.l

26. In a balloon, an envelope having an apex convex cone, and an interior line se'- cured to the underside of the cone away fromrits center and extending out of the bottom of the envelope to a point adjacent to the passenger compartment.

27. In a-balloon, an envelope havin a relatively. stiff shedding-area surrounding the apex, a rope extending from adjacent the passenger compartment through the bot tom of the envelope and through the interior to a crows-foot attachment to the relatively stiff` varea around the apex and secured thereto at points remote from its central high oint.

28. In a ba loon, an envelope, a relatively stiff convex apex section, a. erows-foot attached to the underside of the stiff section remote from its center and merging in a control line vextending through the balloon and out of the bottom to a point accessible to occupants. v

29. In a balloon, a snow-shedding top section, comprising a convex area at the apex of materialstifler than the surrounding or adjacent envelope, means operable by the occupant to' cause a depression of a consider,-

able surface of said shedding top section at one time, and -to permit its quick return to normal yinflated position, whereby any snow or like accumulation will be jarred and ycaused to slide down'the sloping sides.

sleeve secured to they inner walls of the appendix, andan automatic closing device to contract the appendix sleeve.

,33. In a'balloon, an envelope having the upper half of single-ply bleached fabric with the bare fabric surface .outside and wfvith white rubber backing on the inner sur- In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this application this 14th day of May`1923. j j

RALPH H. UPSON. 

